从属 (cóngshǔ) is an adjective meaning 'subordinate' or 'subordinate to', and can also function as a verb meaning 'to be subordinate to'. The character 从 (cóng) means 'to follow' or 'to obey', while 属 (shǔ) means 'to belong to' or 'to be under the jurisdiction of'. Together, they convey the idea of being under someone’s authority, control, or hierarchy — often in organizational, political, legal, or relational contexts. It implies a formal, structural relationship rather than mere personal preference.

This term appears frequently in official documents, corporate hierarchies, legal frameworks (e.g., territorial sovereignty), and academic discussions of power dynamics. Unlike colloquial terms like 下属 (xiàshǔ, 'immediate subordinate'), 从属 carries a more abstract, systemic connotation — for instance, describing how one institution depends on another, or how a region falls under the administrative jurisdiction of a state. It is neutral in tone but formal in register.